RICKIE'S TAKE: FOOTBALL DIARY #8

11 THINGS WE LEARNT FROM THE FA COMMUNITY SHIELD GAME

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The FA Community Shield match is the highly anticipated curtain-raiser to undoubtedly, the most lucrative and most prestigious professional football league in the world; the English Premier League. This conclusion emanates from the statistical records of the ‘insane’ billions of pounds pumped into the English premier league through Television deals, sponsorships, shirt sponsorship, stadium rights deals, and various forms of commercial endorsements.

In the keenly contested FA Community shield match between two English heavy weights in their own rights, Arsenal FC emerged victorious against Chelsea FC, in a 4 – 1 penalty shoot-out that showcased the new penalty kick format of the "team A-B-B-A" structure.

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11 THINGS WE LEARNT FROM THE GAME

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1~ Arsenal has beaten Chelsea ‘back-to-back’ in two competitive games (a trophy was involved in each case). The pre-season friendly win by Chelsea, was exactly what it was – A FRIENDLY (hence, doesn’t count)

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2~ In both losses against Arsenal, Chelsea had a man sent off; (a) FA CUP FINAL: VICTOR MOSES – For a senseless simulation to win a penalty. (b) FA Community Shield: PEDRO RODRIGUEZ – For a crazy challenge on an opposition player, Mohammed Elneny.

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3~ It may seem that Chelsea’s psychological edge over Arsenal has been broken, because Chelsea couldn’t assert any sustained dominance over Arsenal in both games.

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4~ There were key absentees for both sides; (a) For Arsenal: ALEXIS SANCHEZ (future in doubt, and recovering from illness) and MESUT OZIL (minor knock). (b) For Chelsea: DIEGO COSTA (future in doubt, not squad listed) and EDEN HAZARD (Injury)

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5~ Alexander Lacazette started the game brightly but faded mid-way into the game, in the first half. But then, as a new signing, he can only get better when he fully settles in the side. His quality and movement around the box was evident.

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6~ Alvaro Morata came on as a late sub, and was nowhere near the quality of a £60 million pound signing. In his defense, he’s barely spent two weeks with his new club.

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7~ Arsenal would need the finesse, precision and surging energy of an Alexis Sanchez, in partnership with their new recruits, if they are to do well this season. They might struggle without him.

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8~ Chelsea FC is taking a terrible gamble thinking they can achieve much in terms of goal scoring without a Diego Costa leading the attack. No disrespect to a talented Morata, but he is not Diego Costa that has consistently bagged goals for Chelsea in the last 3 seasons. Whatever the fall-out might be between player and manager, it would be in the best interest of the club to try to mend fences for the sake of the clubs ambition. Come to think of it, an Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa in attack wouldn’t be a bad idea for Chelsea.

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9~ Chelsea is still struggling terribly in defense. For a side that went 11 games out of 19 without conceding a goal in the first half of the 2016/2017 season; they ended the second half of the season poorly, keeping only 5 clean sheets in 19 games. They seem to have continued from where they left off, by conceding goals rather cheaply.

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10~ Arsenal has had a decent pre-season campaign, culminating in the winning of their revered pre-season trophy; The Emirates Cup. They are looking good, for the new season.

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11~ Chelsea have had a rather poor pre-season and Antonio Conte would have to do much more than request for a larger squad and more signings from the club management, and start dealing with their poor performances and apparent lack of coordination on the field of play. Failure of which, would apparently lead to a short-lived managerial career at Stamford Bridge, as has been the case with erring managers at Chelsea for years.

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The English Premier League is unarguably the most followed professional football league in the world. I definitely can't wait for the commencement of the new season. If you are as enthusiastic as I am, then there's one thing you can do about that......

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